Chapter : 07
“Honestly, you’re the one who kept running around trying to start businesses and borrowing money from all the neighboring nobles. So why am I always the one who has to clean up your mess?”
“Adele.”
My father called my name in a low, heavy voice. Letting out a sigh as if trying to suppress his anger, he spoke.
“You and your brother are different.”
“…How?”
“He’s the eldest son, and you’re the second child. Your brother is the one who’ll inherit this family. If he falls, then our house is finished.”
…What kind of ridiculous logic is that?
“And besides, you’re capable enough to help us with the talents you have. You’ve always been… such a dependable child.”
At that point, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
The truth was, I’d always been treated differently from Adrian ever since I was little.
Nothing had changed, even now that we were adults.
Until now, I’d endured it all like a fool, sending money home while denying myself even the bare necessities.
I’d survived on little sleep, worked myself to exhaustion under the professor, and still kept going.
The only reason I’d maintained first place at the Academy every single year and earned scholarships without fail was because of this family.
As a result, I barely had the chance to make any friends.
Actually, considering I spent my entire life studying, I was lucky I’d managed to make even one friend—Adolf.
On the other hand… Adrian…
Well, he had his own sleepless nights too.
The difference was that they were caused by the reckless businesses he’d started without any sense of responsibility.
Even so, our parents always defended Adrian.
Their son who accomplished nothing and only drained the family’s finances.
“Adele, can’t you try to understand Adrian? Don’t you think he’s suffering too?”
“…”
“People always say girls mature faster. You should take care of your older brother.”
I quietly inhaled.
I couldn’t smile anymore.
“So… no matter how hard things are for me, I’m just supposed to endure it all? Sacrifice myself for the family? Keep understanding everyone else?”
Until I’d recovered the memories of my previous life, I’d believed that was simply how things were supposed to be.
Now?
I couldn’t tolerate it anymore.
My words made both my parents’ expressions stiffen ever so slightly.
I didn’t miss the opportunity.
“You said I’ve always been dependable? That’s right. Because I always handled everything myself. Because I never complained or caused trouble. That’s why you dumped everything onto me.”
“Adele…”
“If you had even the slightest idea what I’ve sacrificed to keep this family afloat all this time, would you really be able to stand there and tell me to understand my brother? Neither of you ever tried to understand what I was going through. You just deliberately chose not to see it.”
As the words poured out of me, emotions that had been buried for years came crashing in like a tidal wave.
Meanwhile, the person responsible for all of this was probably still out somewhere enjoying himself, completely unaware that this argument was even happening.
He’s probably out drinking somewhere.
I let out a frustrated sigh as I calmly watched the stunned expressions on my parents’ faces.
Neither of them knew what to say in response to my unexpected rebellion.
The quiet child.
The reliable child.
The family’s only hope.
Its strongest pillar.
As long as they praised me with those empty compliments, I’d always obediently done whatever they wanted.
But now I’d suddenly declared that I was done.
And at this very moment, they were probably trying to figure out some new way to persuade me.
This can’t go on.
I looked away from them and slowly stood up.
For the first time, there wasn’t the slightest hesitation or lingering attachment in my heart.
I’d finally walked away from the research I’d clung to for years.
If I could do it once, then doing it a second time wasn’t difficult.
“I’ve made my decision. I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“…What?”
“You said things are so difficult, didn’t you? Then I’ll lighten your burden by one person. From now on, the three of you can figure out the household finances yourselves.”
My icy words left my parents speechless.
Good.
I should’ve done this from the very beginning.
If I wanted to achieve the future I desired, I had to leave this house.
Only by escaping the cage called family could I finally move toward the bright future I’d dreamed of.
“Then… please take care of yourselves.”
Leaving only those final words behind, I turned and walked away.
* * *
Back in my room, I quietly began packing.
My hands moved busily of their own accord.
That’s right.
I’m really leaving this house.
Goodbye, you hellhole.
If I wanted to stop being controlled by everyone else, then becoming independent was the only answer.
Although Adolf’s sponsorship had unfortunately fallen through, I still had one more candidate left.
The name that had occupied my thoughts ever since I left the Imperial Palace.
Heon Leonard.
The protagonist of the original story who had tried to save this world.
There was no one who knew him better than I did.
I even knew the secret his own family desperately tried to hide.
Now I just have to figure out how to use that secret to persuade him.
With a confident smile, I picked up my bag and left the house.
* * *
Cold, almost icy eyes scanned the documents spread across the desk.
“Hm.”
As he casually flipped through the pages, the man eventually found a familiar name.
Name: Adele Catherine
Age: 21
Affiliation: …
“So that’s why she looked familiar.”
Holding the document containing her personal information, Kienne let out something between a sigh and a laugh.
He had reviewed several research reports over the years, but he had never imagined that the lifeless woman who always looked as though she carried the weight of the world was the very same person.
Black hair as dark as the night sky.
Skin so pale it was almost white.
Eyes with an unusually captivating color.
Life at the Magic Tower must have been quite difficult.
Considering how radiant she looked only a few days after leaving.
To think that such a young woman was regarded as one of the Magic Tower’s leading researchers.
Tap.
Tap.
He rhythmically tapped the table with his fingertips as he fell into thought.
Soon, his eyes narrowed.
“But why did she quit her research?”
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that nearly every important theory and groundbreaking experiment in this project had originated from her.
Yet someone with that level of talent had suddenly decided to leave the Magic Tower.
Just as the research was finally beginning to produce meaningful results.
Just as he himself had decided to give it his full support.
“…Hmm.”
Suddenly, Kienne remembered the young woman who had been forcing herself to remain polite.
“If the opportunity arises, I’d like to speak with you at greater length.”
“Of course, if that’s what you wish.”
The memory of the corners of her lips twitching as she forced a smile refused to leave his mind.
He had rarely seen someone wear such an openly uninterested—almost annoyed—expression.
A faint smile slowly curved across his lips.
“Well… I’ll simply find out myself.”
Kienne thought to himself.
Perhaps this woman would become a rather entertaining variable in his otherwise dull and predictable life.
And he had never been the type to let something interesting slip away.
Still wearing a gentle smile, he leisurely leaned back in his chair.
A breeze drifted through the open window, tousling his pale pink hair before passing by.
* * *
Strike while the iron is hot.
The very next day, I rented a small house on the outskirts of the old district.
The crumbling stone wall and broken windows gave it a gloomy appearance, but so what?
I could fix all of that myself.
I’m really glad I saved up my living expenses just in case.
Back when I was a research student at the Magic Tower, I’d sent nearly all of my money home, keeping only the bare minimum for myself.
Even then, I’d been so obsessed with research that I barely had time to spend even that tiny allowance.
In the end, those savings became my security deposit.
Good thing I hadn’t handed that money over to my parents the moment I came home.
I still needed to buy laboratory equipment.
Furniture too.
Everything cost money.
Still, the memories from my previous life—when I’d spent so much time searching for tiny apartments as a graduate student—turned out to be surprisingly useful.
“Miss, see this? No drafts come through here, so it’s nice and warm. Houses like this keep your heating bills lower.”
“And make sure you flush the toilet! If it’s too loud, the plumbing’s probably old!”
“Check around the wallpaper, the furniture, and especially near the windows for damp spots, young lady. Houses with mold will make your life miserable the entire time you live there.”
